Q: What’s the first thing you did when you received word you’d sold a book?A: When my-soon-to-be editor at Kensington called with the news, I started shaking and prayed I sounded intelligent in our conversation, none of which I could recall. Then the tears came, especially when I called my husband at work. (He brought home a bouquet of flowers for me.) After that, I walked around in a state of shock, even long after the book was released.

Q: If one of your books became a movie, which celebrity would you like to star as one of your heroes? Tell us about your hero.A: In keeping with my latest release, I’ve never thought about who would play Cristiano de’ Medici (fictitious cousin to Cosimo de’ Medici). He’s 6’4” tall, black hair and royal blue eyes. In reality, the Medici men were conceited and arrogant. Cristiano is neither, although he comes off as if he is because he’s a shrewd businessman. No one runs his life, but he is kind-hearted, once you get past the demons riding his back.

Q: Do all your heroes and all heroines look the same in your mind as you “head write”?A: Not at all. Each has been given a distinctive look, personality, temperament. I have never written a hero or heroine who, in my mind, looked similar. The same holds true for my secondary and minor characters. I usually vary hair and eye color and don’t box characters in as being generically “blond” or “blue-eyed.” They’re just too different in so many aspects of their physical character and how they handle their situation.

Q: Do you eat comfort food when writing? If so, what food inspires your imagination?A: Comfort food—used to. Food that inspired my imagination—no. I’d have Italian music playing and munch on junk food.(Homemade chocolate chip cookies were always my weakness.). I drank/still drink coffee or a diet Coke. However, the foods I munched on were bad for me and a terrible habit. No food has had influence on my writing whatsoever.

My poor eating habits while writing changed earlier this year when I began to lose weight and finally got the upper hand on my diabetes. I still have my coffee diet soda, but I’ll eat a biscotti, fruit, or something sugar-free, fat-free, or low calorie…but not all at the same time. I doubt there is sinfully good food that also caters to all three. If there is, I haven’t found it yet.

Listening to Italian music while I write has had the most impact on my imagination. When I write historical western romances, I listen to country-western music.

Q: You’re on a remote island with a handsome man, a computer, and a “mysterious” source of electricity to power your computer. What do you do?A: Email everyone to tell them I’m okay and not to rush out to find me. LOL

Q: What genre would you like to try writing in but haven’t yet done so? Why?A: Ancient, WWII, erotica and Steampunk. I’ve written mostly historical westerns and medievals. I’m more comfortable with those time periods. I do have notes for a story set in Ancient Rome. I also have a WWII book that had been researched extensively but never written. Also a historical romance I researched 16 years ago but had a difficult time writing. When erotica became popular, I realized that particular book needed to be in that category and, frankly, it scared me. By no means am I a prude, but I’m used to writing sex in a less clinical way, using euphemisms instead. Steampunk…well, let’s just say I’m not sure about that one yet.

What it comes down to is, I have to build up a comfort level to write in an unfamiliar genre. Prior to getting into medievals, I wrote only historical westerns. I read a lot of medieval romances, but I was intimidated by the tremendous amount of European history I needed to wade through (History wasn’t my best subject.). When I finally jumped in with both feet and wrote my first one, I discovered it came natural to me. As soon as I’ve finished writing my next two books that will tie up a series and a trilogy, I plan to go back to one of those stories. I’ll have to pick up my comfort off the shelf, dust off the cobwebs and hand it over to a new genre.

BLURB:Bianca degli Albizzi is outraged when sworn enemy Cristiano de' Medici asks for her hand in marriage. With her father's blessing, she weds the handsome warrior to end the war between Florence's two powerful families. But headstrong Bianca vows to teach her husband that loyalty cannot be bought...not even by seduction.

Cristiano, a well-known warrior with the wealth of a king, could have any woman he desires. But for the sake of peace he ends up with a defiant bride who awakens his deepest passion. Her vengeful scheming puts them both in peril, but is he prepared to sacrifice his life to safeguard the woman who has stolen his heart?

EXCERPT:

In this scene, Cristiano and Bianca are betrothed and are out for a stroll with Cristiano's cousin and Bianca's sister as chaperones. The reference to the harlot's hose goes back to when he rode out of Florence to accompany Cosimo de' Medici to Padua, where he will be exiled. Cristiano had been stabbed in arm.

“Have you thought of me during my absence?”

“Surely you jest!”

“Then you have forgotten that I wore the harlot’s hose about my arm as I rodeout of Florence?”

Bianca stopped abruptly, sputtering in exasperation. She paced two steps forward,two steps back, then whirled on Cristiano with eyes flashing. “You are undyinglyarrogant.”

He simply shrugged, as if she had given him a compliment instead of an accusation onhis character.

“Know you I would have preferred wearing your hose?”

Bianca blanched. She glanced about hastily as she prayed no one else had heard hisungentlemanly wish. It didn’t help that both Niccolo and Francesca seemed to find the comment amusing. Bianca raised her chin and directed her hostile gaze at the shine in Cristiano’s eyes.

"Is it your practice to wear women’s hose?” she asked pointedly.

Cristiano threw his head back and roared. When at last he contained his mirth, hereplied, “Maiden, you humor me. I thank you.”

“Thank me not, my lord,” Bianca said, her mouth tight. As she flounced off, his irongrip yanked her back, forcing her to his side. They began walking again. Now and then he’d chuckle, deepening the color in her cheeks. She was surprised when he stopped and turned to look at her. Niccolo and Francesca went on ahead.

“Bianca, would you willingly marry me if I were not a Medici?”

She let her gaze sweep up the length of him and realized he was anxious to hear herresponse. Sighing, she replied, “Mayhap one day I would.”

“Your meaning?”

“I am only in my eighteenth year, my lord, and have years left to be free from oneman’s rule.”

A new dawning came to light from her honesty. “Are you afraid you will lose yourfreedom?”

Bianca nodded.

At the entrance to an alley behind the bank Cristiano owned, he took Bianca’s handand pulled her around the building. Backing up to the wall, he brought her into him,cradling her cozily between his hips.

“This is improper,” she protested.

“I care not, so do not burden me with propriety. I mean only to set your mind at ease, Bianca. The freedom you desire need not be lost to you Understand the importance our marriage will have on the Medici and the Albizzi.” He broached the subject, ever aware of her mistrust of his lineage. “We must proceed for the sake of Florence.”

“Mayhap you feel indebted to Florence, and I should as well. But marriage should befor lovers.” A devil’s gleam came into his eyes. Bianca leaned back, but he pressed her into him, imprisoning her to his length.

“Then lovers we shall be,” he whispered. His mouth descended like a swooping hawk,closing over her lips in bridled passion. Carefully, he controlled his desire for her, restraining himself commendably, though he doubted she’d agree. Her inexperience enthralled him, and he wished he could understand how his intimate caresses affected her. Cristiano embraced her, glorying in the feel of her soft body stretching up his, thrilling to the knowledge that soon she would be his woman, no matter that Albizzi blood flowed through her veins.

Anything else you’d like to add?Just a heartfelt thank you to RBRU for having me as a guest today. And to Marianne, whom, I believe, I emailed a few times to ask if I’d sent in my interview yet. Don’t know why I couldn’t keep track of it.

Great interview! It was fun getting to know you better today, Jannine. The Lily and the Falcon sounds like a very interesting story. I will have to give this one a try. I haven't read any medieval stories in a while. I loved the excerpt and I hope you do well in the sales of this book.

Heide, lol. I haven't spoken German in 25 years! I'm surprised I understood what you wrote.

Unfortunately, family and health issues kept me away from the languages I had spoken. It's one of the biggest regrets I have in my life. After 25 years, my old brain doesn't remember much. The only one I've kept up with is Italian, but I'm not fluent anymore. I've been away from family too long.